<p><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables /> <w:SnapToGridInCell /> <w:WrapTextWithPunct /> <w:UseAsianBreakRules /> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:595.3pt 841.9pt; margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt; mso-header-margin:35.4pt; mso-footer-margin:35.4pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">I&rsquo;m standing in this quite time before the world gets going, watching our young beast chewing hay and thinking no matter how hard the winter, spring always comes stumbling along.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">Not that there is much sign of it just yet.<span>&nbsp; </span>No first blush of green grace the hedgerows, wayside snowdrops, float, half drowned in ditch water and the few crocus that dare to poke their heads above the frost bitten earth have been flagellated by sparrows.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">But the signs are there if you care to look.<span>&nbsp; </span>The birds know.<span>&nbsp; </span>I hear their fierce joy when dawn cracks the sky and as the weak sun rises, there is a lightness in the air which tells of old father frost slaking his grip on this good earth and soon, very soon now, she will stretch and yawn and shrug off her brown shroud of winter decay and welcome once again the beast to her fields.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">The first day of Spring was actually the 20^th March this year which means it fell on Saturday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I don&rsquo;t know about your neck of the woods, but in my part of Leicestershire it was a wet, miserable day, not exactly cold, but certainly not very spring like!</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">Too wet to ride, I went for a four mile walk with Darling Daughter, her friend and little Annikins.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">DD hadn&rsquo;t seen her friend for a while so guess who got landed with the buggy for most of the jaunt!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Wouldn&rsquo;t have minded so much, but I&rsquo;d just done a five and half mile run the night before which meant my legs felt like lumps of wood.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">It did give me the chance to think about the reality of the equinox though.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Day and night at this time are of equal length and the old ones celebrated by various rituals involving green men, eggs and ritual and not so ritual seed planting.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">This may seem quaint and out dated in this technological age, but it doesn&rsquo;t take much more than a country walk to get back in touch with our primal selves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>In spite of the rain, you could sense the awakening of the land and the signs of rebirth were everywhere.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">Even our cattle, content for most of this over long winter to remain in the barn now sense the coming of summer and last night staged a mass break out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Chasing bucking beast around a dark farmyard in my nighty wasn&rsquo;t exactly my idea of an ideal end to a Sunday evening!</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">Have been thinking about updating <a href="http://www.sleetshootsandleaves.co.uk"><strong>Sleet, Shoots and Leaves</strong></a> the poetry anthology I co-wrote with BF1.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Think it definitely needs some verse which reflects the more mundane aspects of country life!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Wonder if the Vernal Cattle Stampede is a bit too dramatic?</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">&nbsp;</span></p>

<p><span style="font-size: small;">Not sure about where you are, but its raw here and has been for the past couple of days, but spring is definitely around the corner!</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;"></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;">I needed some up to date photos for a couple of articles I'm working on so have been out and about with my camera.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;"></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;">I took these little chaps at a nearby farm.&nbsp; They have finished lambing and these little fellows couldn't care a hoot about the cold.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;"><img src="../private/lambs.jpg" border="0" alt="Lambs playing on straw bales" title="Lambs playing in barn" width="361" height="240" /></span></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><span style="font-size: small;">Mind you, they were tucked up nice and cosy in a barn!&nbsp; </span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;"></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;">They are pure bred Lincoln longwool and one or two of these may well end up in the show ring.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;"></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;"></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;">Here's another&nbsp;from the same farm.&nbsp; These lambs are only a couple of days old.</span></p> <p><img src="../../private/lambs2.jpg" border="0" alt="lincoln ewe and twin lambs" title="New born lambs" width="361" height="240" /></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;<span style="font-size: small;">This ewe's lamb is much older </span><span style="font-size: small;">and can stand the elements!&nbsp; <img src="../../private/eweandlamb.jpg" border="0" alt="lincoln ewe and lamb" title="Lincoln ewe and lamb" width="361" height="240" /></span></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><span style="font-size: small;"></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;"></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;"></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;"></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;"></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;"></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;">We don't get many hares around here, but I did spot this pair of mad hatters during the weekend!</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;"><img src="../../private/hares.jpg" border="0" alt="mad march hares" title="Mad March Hares" width="317" height="243" /></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;"></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;"></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;"></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;"></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;"></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;"></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;"></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;">and here come the flowers ... <img src="../../private/snowdrops.jpg" border="0" alt="Snow drops" title="snow drops" width="361" height="240" /></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;"></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;"></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;"></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;"></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;"></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;"></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;"></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;">Not mine alas!&nbsp; These are growing on</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;">next door's lawn.&nbsp; </span></p>

<p><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables /> <w:SnapToGridInCell /> <w:WrapTextWithPunct /> <w:UseAsianBreakRules /> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]> <object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id=ieooui> </object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">Unfortunately I can&rsquo;t make this year&rsquo;s Royal Welsh Spring Festival as I&rsquo;m donning war paint and frightening the natives with my morris dancing, but if you are looking for a good day out RWAS comes highly recommended.<span>&nbsp; </span>Not only that it&rsquo;s a fantastic photo opportunity and the chance to pick up some great article ideas for anything connected with gardening, smallholding or sustainable living</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">Located at the Royal Welsh showground&rsquo;s South Glamorgan Exhibition Hall, the Speakers Corner part of the show is a particularly good first choice stopping place as you get to meet the experts in various fields, (sorry no pun intended!) which is always a good thing as these can give weight and credibility to an article.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>&nbsp;</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">Among the speakers will be: Catherine Hale, a former lecturer who is just completing a PhD in animal nutrition at Aberystwyth University.<span>&nbsp; </span>Her talk will be on feeding poultry.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">Mrs Mary Thomas who will be giving a talk and demonstration on preserving fruit and vegetables.<span>&nbsp; </span>A retired home economics teacher she enjoys gardening and cooking and is an active member of the National Vegetable Society and is a qualified judge.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">David Burridge has 30 years experience of growing organic fruit and vegetables and has taught organic horticulture for 10 years.<span>&nbsp; </span>He also ran a research project into growing oriental vegetables and vegetables suitable for winter storage.<span>&nbsp; </span>He is chairman of Radnorshire Enterprise for Nature, Education and Wellbeing (RENEW), a not-for-profit association promoting sustainable living.<span>&nbsp; </span>His talk will be on growing for a year-round supply of vegetables and fruits.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">Pygmy goats are one of the popular attractions at the Festival and Peter Mercer, who is chairman of the Pygmy Goat Club, will give a talk on an introduction to Pygmy goat keeping.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>&nbsp;</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">Liz Shankland will speak on &lsquo;starting with pigs&rsquo; and Wally Shaw will be giving a talk on both days on the art of beekeeping.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">There will also be a &lsquo;Good Life&rsquo; question time and a panel of experts will be on hand ready to answer queries on the good life and self sufficiency.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">The two-day Spring Festival takes place on the Royal Welsh showground at Llanelwedd, Builth Wells, on Saturday and Sunday, May 21 and 22.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">So there you are, not just a great day our, but a fantastic source of article ideas.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">If you need more, take a look at the festival website www.rwas.co.uk </span></p>